Musical instrument



Dec. 4, 1928. 1693,92 1

J. E. HILLEBRANDT MUS I CAL INSTRUMENT Filed June 30, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR %M ATTNEYfi J. E. HILLEBRANDT MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Dec. 4, 1928. 1,693,924

Filed June 30, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATl'ORNE I Patented Dec. 4, 1928.

UNITED STATES J' oHAN EMIL HILLEBRANDT, OF WEST BRIGHTON, NEW YORK.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

Application filed June 30, 1925. .Serial N0. 40 504 My invention relates to musical instruments and the object of my invention is to provide an instrument of the stringed type, such a violin, banjo or guitar etc. of novel construction, and having a resonator of novel construction which may be made of any suitable material such as wood or metal.

In the drawings illustrating my invention, and which form a part of these speciti0ations, I show a violin construction in which practically all the parts except the fingerboard and head, are made of sheet metal such as brass or aluminum, but it will be understood that the resonator may be made of wood if desired.

Referring to the drawings;

Fig. 1 is a plan View of an instrument embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a. longitudinal sectional plan view through the resonator.

4 a cross sectional view on line 4-4. of Figure 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view on line 5-5 of Figure 1, looking in the direction dicated by the arrows.

The resonator, the outer wall of which is indicated by A, is made quite rigid by reason of its construction and produces musical toues of great power.

It comprises the outer tapering cylindrical wall A, and the inner tapering tubular shaped wall B, connected together along the entire length of the wall 13, by the upper edges thereof along the two seams C and C respectively, said seams comprising the upper edge portions of the elements A and B, and the side edge portions of the centre 40 strip which strip extends the entire length of the resonator and forms a part of the outer wall thereof and which may he made thicker and stronger than the wall B or A. The form of the seams C and C is clearly shown in cross section in Figures 4 and 5, and in the event that the inner wall B should be dispensed with, the seams would still be formed toprovide the necessary stillness for the outer wall, and to serve as base portions or ribs to which the braces holding the rest-bar could be attached by rivets E, used to secure the parts together. The seams may be soldered or brazed or held together in any other proper manner. The two walls are also connected together by vertically extending bolts or braces FF respectively which not only brace and hold the walls in position but also renders the tones produced more smooth and uniform. It will be observed that the body of air or cubic content thereof between the walls in the space A is substantially equal to the volume in the space B, thus siimaleiiieiitiug each other in their resonating action. The small end of the resonator wall A, is closed by a thin inclined plate A whereas the small end of the wall B is left open and spaced a short distance from the plate A and terminates a short distance from the o en l large end of the wall A.

Firmly secured to the seams C and C" which serve as bass-bars to the resonator elements A and B, is a strip of metal G, hereinai'ter referred to as the bridge-base, which is made of resilient metal and extends across and above the rest-bar H, and is connected therewith by a short metal red I, by means of which the bridge-base may be li ced and its top adjusted transversely relative to the rest-bar. A bridge J is mounted on the bridge-base. The restvar H herein shown as a metal tube but it may be simplv an arched strip of still metal or of woo .id is provided with. a shoulder-rest K at one end and supports the neck L and fingerboard M etc., at the other end. The restbar and neck is disposed at an angle to the centre line through the resonator and above the same as illustrated in Figure 2, and firmly connected to the seams C and C by braces N which extend from said StillllS a brace strip 0, which in turn is rigidly connected to the restbar.

A brace strip P is connected. ri 'idlv to the seams C and C and supports brace portion 0 which is rigidly connected to the rest-bar. The tail-piece Q, is held at its rear end by a link 1?. to the' rest K. and its sides are held by brace rods S connected to the seams C and C, and serve to hold the tail-piece well below the top of the bridge J.

The strings T extend from the tail-piece to the keys U in the usual manner.

It will be understood from the foregoing description that the violin type of bridge and fingerboard shown herein may be used. for use as a violin, and also that a banjo bridge and fingerboard may be easily substituted and the resonator and parts would constitute a banjo type of instrument, etc.

The instrument may be made in Various sizes and with many modifications as to details of construction without departing from the invention disclosed.

Having thus described my invent-ion, I claim as new:

1. Jr resonator for stringed musical instruments and tie like comprising an outer wall and an inner ta ering spaced wall, said outer and inner wads being split and the adjacent edges joined togetaer along one side throughout the entire length and. a center strip connecting said joined walls forming a support t resonator tor stringed musical instriunents and the like comprising an outer wall and an. inner tapering wall spaced from the outer wall said outer and inner walls being split and the adjacent edges 1' ned to. other by rigid scams and a center strip connecting said seams throughout the length thereof forming a reentorced support.

i resonator for stringed musical instruments and toe like comprising an outer wall and an inner itroyi the outer wall sad walls being split and the adjacent edges joined tog by rigid seams e.:tendine throughou" 1 gth thereof, one end or said out closed and the coriespon' 3 inner wall open and *rip connecting said sean'is and therewith a rig'd support. resonator for stringed musical instruments and the like comprising an outer wall and an inner tapering wall spaced fr m the outer wall, said outer and inner w: s being split and the adjacent edges joined together by rigid seams extending throughout the length thereof a center strip connecting said seams and brace rods conthe lower sides nccti of said walls forming "ltl support.

A resonator for stringed musical instruments and the like comprising an outer wall and an inner liljtliilg wall spaced from the outer wall produci g inner and outer substantially equal re onating chambers, said outer and inner walls being split and the adjacent edges joined together by longitudinally extending seams and a central connecting strip forming a rigid support.

6. A resonator for stringed musical instruments and the like comprising an outer tapering tubular wall and an inner spaced tubular wall, said outer and inner walls being split and the adjacent edges joined together by rcenforcing seams and a center strip and forming an inner and outer sound clnnnber one end of the outer wall. being closed and the corresponding end of the inner wall being open and brace rods connecting the lower sides of said walls and l orn'ung with said seams a rigid support.

7. A resonator for stringed musical instruments and the like comprising an outer tapering tubular wall and an inner spaced tnl ilar wall, said outer and inner walls being split and the adjacent edges joined toier by longitudinally extending reenlorccams and a center strip iliorming coniric resonating chambers of substantially the same capacity, one end of the outer wall being closed by an inclined plate and the corresponding end of the inner wall bring open and a bridge base secured to said seams and forming therewith a rigid sup port.

8. A resonator for stringed musical inst un'ients and the like comprising an outer tapering tubular wall and an inner spaced tubular wall said. outer and inner alts: being split and the adjacent edges joined together by longitudinally extending reentorcing seams and a center strip the sides of said walls overlapping said scams, said walls forming two concentric resonating chambers of substantially the same capacity. one end of the outer chamber being closed by an inclined wall and the correspoiuling end of the inner chamber being open and in communication with the outer chamber, brace rods connecting the lower sides of said walls and a bridge brace connected to the seams and forming therewith a rigid support.

In testimony whereof, I, Joni-m Earn l'lILLEBRANDT, have signed my name to this specification this 15th day of June, 1925.

JOHAN EMIL HILLEBRAND'I. 

